Harry Redknapp sets sights on Ben Foster

HARRY REDKNAPP has made Ben Foster his No 1 target to replace Heurelho Gomes as Tottenham’s first-choice keeper next season.

Harry Redknapp has made Ben Foster his No 1 target to replace Heurelho Gomes []

Redknapp is reluctant to ditch a man he has hailed as a fantastic shot-stopper, but is finally running out of patience with error-prone Gomes.

England keeper Foster, 28, has enjoyed an impressive first season at Birmingham, helping them win the Carling Cup and keeping them clear of the relegation zone.

He moved to St Andrew’s for £6 million from Manchester United last summer and is rated at about £10m. Spurs would be prepared to offer midfielder David Bentley and full-back Alan Hutton as part of any deal.

Striker Robbie Keane would also be available if West Ham are relegated and he is forced to return to White Hart Lane.

Bentley, who has been on loan at St Andrew’s since January, has not impressed, however, and angered manager Alex McLeish by leaving the ground before the 1-1 draw with Wolves after not even being named among the substitutes. Other than Foster, Redknapp has also considered Ajax and Holland goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and Manchester City’s Shay Given as replacements for Gomes.

But Stekelenburg is being chased by a host of top clubs and Tottenham fear he will want Champions League football, while City have stuck to a policy of not selling to their close rivals.

Republic of Ireland keeper Given is also a summer target of Celtic, with whom City are far more likely to agree to do business.